Former Australian cricket legend Matthew Hayden has made a bold statement regarding England's Joe Root and his performance in the upcoming Ashes series. Hayden, known for his aggressive batting style and forthright personality, has declared he will "walk nude around the MCG if he doesn't make a hundred this summer". The Ashes series, a historic cricket rivalry between England and Australia, is set to begin on November 21 in Perth.
Hayden's confident assertion came during a discussion on the 'All Over Bar The Cricket' YouTube channel. He expressed his belief that Root, despite being one of the modern greats of Test cricket, would finally break his century drought on Australian soil. Root, 34, has played 14 Tests in Australia, scoring 892 runs at an average of 35.6, including nine fifties but without reaching a century.
The former Australian opener's statement has generated a significant buzz, especially drawing a reaction from his daughter, Grace Hayden, who is a sports presenter. Grace, seemingly mortified by the prospect of her father's potential nude stroll, took to the show's Instagram account to plead with Root: "Please Joe Root, make a hundred". Her comment has added another layer of amusement to the story, capturing the attention of cricket fans online.
Grace Hayden, 23, has been making her own mark in the media industry. She has worked as a presenter for the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Channel 7's horse racing coverage, and also hosts her own sports podcast, "Game On with Grace". In 2024, she worked alongside her father, Matthew Hayden, during the IPL tournament as part of the Star Sports broadcast team.
The playful banter between Matthew and Grace has often been enjoyed by cricket fans. However, Grace is also carving out her own identity, distinguishing herself beyond being simply "Matthew Hayden's daughter". She has addressed the challenges women face in the media, particularly the sexualization and criticism of their appearances.
Matthew Hayden's career spanned from 1994 to 2009, during which he established himself as one of Australia's finest opening batsmen. He scored 8,625 runs in Test matches, including 30 centuries. He also scored 6,133 runs in One Day Internationals (ODIs), with 10 centuries. Hayden holds the record of the third-highest number of centuries for an Australian in international cricket. In October 2003, Hayden scored 380 against Zimbabwe at the WACA Ground in Perth, which was a record score at the time. He was named one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year in 2003 and the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year in 2007.
Hayden's "nude walk" proposition is not the first time his actions have raised eyebrows. Adam Gilchrist once revealed a story on Grace's podcast about Hayden getting on top of a cable car in Cape Town naked with the Australian flag wrapped around him after a World Cup win.
The Ashes series is a major event in the world of cricket, and Hayden's bold prediction has undoubtedly added to the excitement. Whether Joe Root manages to score a century and spare Hayden's blushes remains to be seen.
